Does your church have a facebook page? Make sure you connect with the Atlantic District page and stay connected online!

The 2013 LCMS National Youth Gathering "Live Loved" is taking place in San Antonio, TX from July 1-5, 2013. Rev. Matthew Gonzalez serves as our District Coordinator.

Please send any questions that you have to: Pastor@trinitylutheranbronx.org. 

 Christmas is coming and exciting things are happening at Martin Luther School!  Click here to find out more!

News from Marlene Lund, executive Director at the Center for Urban Education Ministries - click here for the most recent newsletter. 

 Under the direction of the Atlantic District Board of Directors, the District Task Force on Parish Education and Youth (Task Force #5) has set aside $2000 in its 2012 budget for the purpose of providing financial support for youth events and activities on a regional basis.

These grants for regional youth activities are designed to encourage collaborative planning and regional youth gatherings, connecting youth and youth leaders from various congregations in each vice presidential region.

 The grant money would be released in two phases. Half of the allocation ($250) would be released after the first three parts of the application are submitted and approved by the Task Force. The balance of the grant ($250) would be released after the event is completed and the last three sections of the application are submitted.

 Questions about the Regional Youth Grants can be addressed to Tom Roemke at:  troemke@nycap.rr.com   518/669-0790

Click here for the Application Form.

Meet us in St. Louis!

January 3-5, 2013

Click here to learn more...

A new edition of the Spanish-language Bible (bound together with Luther's Small Catechism) will be available in early 2013 from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation in Macomb.  The new Bible will be the Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC) edition, an easier-to-understand version well suited to Hispanic ministry in the United States. As with all LHF publications, the Spanish Bible with Small Catechism is available at no charge to those who need them. For those who are able, a suggested donation of $5-$10 per book covers printing and shipping costs and helps LHF continue its mission of translating and printing Lutheran materials.  Interested parties are encouraged to pre-order their Bibles by e-mailing info@LHFmissions.org or calling LHF at (800)554-0723.

Lutheran Friends of the Deaf (LFD), a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and part of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, is moving along with its unique Bible Stories project. Combining written language, expressive artwork and illustrated sign language, the books are geared toward Deaf and hearing children alike. The main purpose, according to Rev. S.R. Schumacher, Director of Deaf Ministry for LFD, is "to teach children about Jesus." He also noted that the books are a helpful resource in a variety of family and educational settings, "whether it's a family composed of hearing and deaf members or a Sunday school class of hearing and deaf students."

 
The latest books in the series of 12 to be published in written English and American Sign Language (ASL), "Jesus Heals the Deaf Man," and "Noah and the Big Flood," have been recently released, along with Chinese translations of the first and second stories, "Jesus Blesses the Children," and "The First Christmas," respectively. All dozen will eventually be translated into other written and sign languages, such as Russian and Spanish, in addition to Chinese. 

Dr. Mark Prowatzke, Executive Director of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations is pleased that the project is well underway. He said, "This multilingual series is an exciting tool for Lutheran Friends of the Deaf as we begin an intentional expansion of the scope of our work around the world." Indeed, the Chinese-translated texts will be a valuable resouce as LFD continues its recently-begun mission outreach throughout Asia.

LFD's mission, to enhance the life of the Deaf through Christ, is being met by this rewarding project. Upcoming titles include, "A Book of Prayers," "Baby Moses," "Daniel and the Lions," "The Three Men in a Fiery Furnace," "Samuel and God's Call," "Jesus and the Blind Man," and "Feeding 5,000."

Through the Bible Stories, LFD aims to evangelize and educate the Deaf in many parts of the world. "The Bible Stories are examples of our effort to carry out our mission of bringing the saving message of Christ to the deaf around the globe, by translating the stories into other written languages and their country's complimenting sign language," said Rev. Schumacher. 

He added that LFD has found students in various international regions who are also looking to learn English as a second language and the books have been quite useful in this teaching this as well.  

The currently published stories, as well as future releases, are available at a minimal cost.
For more information about titles and languages, comments, or to order copies, please call
1-800-264-0662. Visit www.millneck.org often for updates on the availability of stories. 

Lutheran Friends of the Deaf provides support for educational and evangelistic outreach to Deaf people of all ages throughout the United States and world. Mill Neck Foundation and Lutheran Friends of the Deaf are part of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, a not-for-profit group dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people who are Deaf, or who have other special needs, through excellence in individually designed educational, vocational or spiritual programs and services. For more information, please call 1-800-264-0662 or visit http://www.millneck.org.

Changing on 1/1/2013, IRS has increased the standard business mileage rate to 56.5¢ per mile (from 55.5¢ in effect since 1/1/12).   The new rate apply to mileage reimbursements paid to an employee on or after January 1, 2013 with respect to transportation expenses paid or incurred by the employee on or after January 1, 2013.  

The rate used for charitable deduction purposes, set by statute rather than IRS, remains at 14¢ per mile.

Please share this information with your staff.  As usual, contact me if you have any questions concerning this change.  (914) 337-5700 x3 or at: peter.labenberg@ad-lcms.org

Koinonia Mission House at Evangelical Immanuel Lutheran Church, Whitestone, provides worry-free, comfortable, safe and convenient housing for ministry, mission or church agency-related groups, families or individuals, who need a place to stay in New York City, while they go about the Lord's business; sharing the Good News of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Concordia College-New York, a small private, Liberal Arts College located in the beautiful suburb of Bronxville, NY, invites applications for two Spring 2013 Faculty openings in:

(1) SPECIAL EDUCATION/GENERAL EDUCATION FACULTY (CHILDHOOD), MASTERS PROGRAM 

(1) EDUCATION FACULTY (EARLY CHILDHOOD), UNDERGRADUATE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM

Concordia engages and nurtures a diverse student body in a value-oriented, liberal arts education for lives of service to church and community. See our website, www.concordia-ny.edu, for more information about the College.

Qualified and interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, curriculum vita and three letters of recommendation to:

Kathleen Clarke, Director of Human Resources:

Email: kathleen.clarke@concordia-ny.edu.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately. 

Official transcripts will be required of finalists only.

Lutheran Malaria Initiative

Fight Malaria with the "Save A Life" gift set.  Click here for more information.

Lutheran Malaria Initiative program staff, Hilaire Zon from West Africa shared that the most recent LMI program in Mali had some surprising results.  Since 2006 the percentage of children under 5 years old sleeping under a bed net has increased from 27% to 99%.  Households owning at least one bed net jumped from 66% to 99% and pregnant women sleeping under a bed net the previous night went from 31% to 86%.  All of these changes are directly related to the programming of LMI and its partners.

Please consider Holiday gifts to the LMI campaign through your church, through LIMM, or directly to www.lutheranmalaria.org.  All of us together CAN help to change history and eradicate deaths in Africa from malaria by 2015. 

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This is an e-mail from the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  If you would like to submit an article for publication in the E-Communique, please send it via email to Kristen Schulz at: kristen.schulz@ad-lcms.org 

Thank you and God's Blessings!